On Sunday evening at Coca-Cola Park, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs closed out a six-game homestand against the Rochester Red Wings. The IronPigs were looking to win the series with Rochester. Unfortunately, that did not happen.
Hammonton, New Jersey, native Joe Gatto (3-0, 7.26 ERA) was on the mound for the IronPigs, while the Red Wings started Logan Verrett (4-6, 5.07 ERA).
Joe Gatto pitched two innings, allowing two hits, no runs, no walks, and one strikeout on 19 pitches. James Marvel took over for Gatto at the top of the third inning. He pitched three innings, allowing two hits, no runs, one walk, and five strikeouts on 54 pitches.
Ryan Sherriff took over for Marvel at the top of the sixth inning. Sherriff went one inning, allowing one hit, no runs, no walks, and one strikeout. Connor Brogdon replaced Sherriff at the top of the seventh inning. Brogdon pitched one inning, allowing one hit, no runs, no walks, and two strikeouts.
At the top of the eighth inning, Jakob Hernandez replaced Connor Brogdon. Hernandez went one inning, allowing two hits, no runs, no walks, and two strikeouts. Then, Nick Duron replaced Jakob Hernandez at the top of the ninth inning. He went one inning, allowing one hit, no runs, no walks, and one strikeout. The Red Wings’ batters were 0-10, with runners in scoring position. Meanwhile, the IronPigs left three runners in scoring position.
At the top of the tenth inning, Tyler Cyr was the new pitcher, and Red Wings’ center fielder Andrew Stevenson went to second base, with Ildemaro Vargas up first to bat. Vargas grounded out to second baseman Scott Kingery, and he threw the ball to first baseman Josh Ockimey for the first out, while Andrew Stevenson moved to third base.
Red Wings’ first baseman Adrian Sanchez was next to bat. He singled on a ground ball to center field, scoring Stevenson for a 1-0 lead. Then, Red Wings’ left fielder Josh Palacios doubled on a sharp line drive to right field. Dustin Peterson got the ball and threw it, and the ball went in and out of the glove of Scott Kingery, allowing another run to score, 2-0. Then, Cyr got Jake Noll to fly out and Nick Banks to ground out that retired the side.
In the bottom of the tenth inning, Josh Ockimey went to second base as Matt Cronin closed out the game for Rochester. Cronin got three straight flyouts from Rafael Marchan, Scott Kingery, and Daniel Robertson that ended the game.
The IronPigs lost 2-0 and split the series with Rochester at three games apiece. The IronPigs are now 45-39 for the season, while the Red Wings improve to 44-40 in a tight East Division.
Red Wings pitcher Matt Cronin picked up his second win of the season, going 1.1 innings with no hits, no runs, no walks, and one strikeout. Meanwhile, IronPigs pitcher Tyler Cyr lost his second game going one inning, allowing two hits, two runs, no walks, and no strikeouts.
The IronPigs are back on the road starting Tuesday at Truist Field against the Charlotte Knights at 7:04 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise at Fanatics.com.
